Bengaluru, August 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday assured that women would be included in the state Cabinet, amid demands within the Congress for female representation following the recent Cabinet expansion.
“Our Cabinet will certainly have a woman minister. We will give more strength to women,” Shivakumar told reporters.
He was speaking after paying floral tributes to former Karnataka Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa at Vidhana Soudha on his death anniversary.
Responding to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju’s criticism over the absence of women in the expanded Karnataka Cabinet, Shivakumar defended the Congress and said the party had played a key role in framing and passing the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament.
“The Congress was responsible for framing the Bill and getting it passed in the Lok Sabha. During the Lok Sabha elections, we had given more seats to women in Karnataka. The issue of Cabinet expansion will be resolved shortly. Rijiju need not worry about the Congress. He should think about his own party and government,” he said.
Asked about a possible visit to New Delhi, Shivakumar said he would travel to the national capital and that details would be shared before the departure.
Tributes to S. Nijalingappa
Paying tribute to Nijalingappa, Shivakumar described him as a distinguished leader who brought honour to Karnataka and made significant contributions to the state’s political and administrative development.
Recalling his interactions with the former Chief Minister, Shivakumar said he had met Nijalingappa several times and had visited him along with former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna. He also recalled that Sonia Gandhi had travelled to Chitradurga to meet him.
Shivakumar said Nijalingappa played an important role in the movement for Karnataka’s unification and was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles. He also noted that Nijalingappa was among the Karnataka leaders who served as Congress president, followed later by Mallikarjun Kharge.
The Chief Minister highlighted Nijalingappa’s efforts to represent Karnataka and Kannada interests at the national level and credited him with contributions to irrigation projects, including the Bhadra and Upper Krishna projects.
Recalling Nijalingappa’s simple lifestyle, Shivakumar said the former Chief Minister’s administration reflected secular values and the ideals of Basavanna.
He also said the Siddaramaiah government had taken steps to bring Nijalingappa’s property under government custody to prevent it from passing into other hands. Shivakumar called for continued support and care for Nijalingappa’s family.
Recalling the former leader’s contribution to the Congress and India’s political history, Shivakumar also referred to his role during the 1924 Belagavi Congress session.
“Nijalingappa served as Chief Minister, but his daughter worked as a lecturer at the college where I studied. He led a simple life. His guidance and values will always remain important to us,” Shivakumar said.
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